Return to the Education Main Page

Samoalive Scholar Personalities

Conan Vaiao Ala’ilima

Hon. Judge Mason Martin II of Texas administers the
oath of office during the commissioning ceremony of
Lieutenant Conan Vaiao Ala’ilima beneath the statue of
former US President and West Point graduate Dwight D.
Eisenhower as Conan’s mother Marlene Jahnke Ala’ilima
and grandfather Leiataua Vaiao Ala’ilima look on.
(Saturday – June 1, 2002)
 

Born on May 12th 1981, Conan Vaiao Ala’ilima is the
eldest son of Leiataua Birdsall V. Ala’ilima and
Marlene E. Jahnke. He hails from proud Polynesian
families with blood ties throughout the Samoan Islands
and the Kingdom of Tonga. Conan’s Caucasian heritage
is derived from Scotch, Irish, English and German
origins.

Conan began his school career at Apia Primary in
Samoa. He is a graduate of Marist-Saint Francis
Elementary School and Marist High School in American
Samoa where he graduated Valedictorian of both
schools. In 1998, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega
nominated Conan Ala’ilima to the United States
Military Academy (USMA) at West Point in New York.
West Point is the first engineering school established
in the United States and educates officers and leaders
for the US military. A few of the prominent graduates
of West Point include Gen. Ulysses S. Grant (former US
President), Jefferson Davis (President of the
Confederate States of America), Gen. Robert E. Lee,
Gen. William T. Sherman, Gen. George S. Patton, Jr.,
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower (former US President), Gen.
Omar N. Bradley, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Edwin E.
"Buzz" Aldrin and Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf. Each
cadet at West Point receives a challenging and
demanding education at a cost of approximately
$300,000 that is paid entirely by the US government. 
 

At age 17, Conan began his military and undergraduate
career at West Point in July of 1998 as the youngest
cadet of the bicentennial graduating class of 2002.
Since entering West Point, Conan has had opportunities
to undergo both academic and military training that
are simply not part of the curriculum at civilian
colleges and universities. For example, during the
summer of 2000, Conan received a temporary assignment
as a second lieutenant with the 2nd Infantry
Division’s combat engineering platoon in South Korea.
Additionally, in the summer of 2001, Conan was
assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington, to work with the
Army Corps of Engineers to assess Housing Development
Projects in Lake Tacoma.
    
On Saturday, June 1, 2002, Conan Vaiao Ala’ilima (USMA
’02) graduated as part of the 200th graduating class
of the United States Military Academy. He was awarded
his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.
US President George W. Bush was the commencement
speaker at Conan’s graduation and former New York
Mayor Rudolph Gulliani was the guest speaker at his
graduation banquet. On June 1, 2002, Conan was
commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United
States Army. Following Officer Engineering Training in
Missouri, Conan’s first tour of duty, will be as a
combat engineer with the 2nd Infantry Division in
South Korea.
    
Conan’s younger brother Birdsall Vo’a Ala’ilima (USMA
’04) is also a cadet at West Point. Conan would like
to take this opportunity to extend his best wishes and
sincerest gratitude to all his family, friends and
educators in Samoa who have played an integral role in
ensuring his success.